Witness helps police nab suspect in hit-and-run of bicyclist

Friday

May 9, 2014 at 9:12 PM

By Brian Lee TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

LEOMINSTER — Police say they were led to the 34-year-old suspect in Monday night's hit-and-run of a teenage bicyclist after a witness allegedly saw him speed through Riverside Village Apartments on State Street.

The witness, according to Police Lt. Michael Goldman, did not see the victim's bike lodged under the suspect's car, but she got within 5 feet of him and screamed at him not to drive so fast in the complex.

Daniel Brand, of 167 Whitney St., was being held Friday afternoon on $50,000 bail pending Monday's arraignment on charges of witness intimidation, leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, operating after suspension, driving to endanger and vandalism.

The witness also reportedly saw Mr. Brand drive into an embankment, maneuvering back and forth several times, Lt. Goldman said.

In addition, Mr. Brand allegedly returned to the woman's apartment complex and threatened her, police said.

The victim, 16-year-old Joshua Carillo, was resting at home after having suffered two broken legs in the accident, according to his mother, Kendra Brown.

The incident occurred about 9 p.m. Monday in the area of North Main and Moore streets.

Police said Joshua and his cousin were riding across North Main Street when one of them noticed a man in a silver or gray car looking left for oncoming traffic. The driver then turned onto the street and his car struck Joshua's bike.

The driver then drove to State Street — with the bicycle lodged underneath the car — where he found an out-of-view parking area, according to police. He threw the bicycle over the fence and down the hill into the Nashua River.

Lt. Goldman said the witness came forward either late Wednesday or Thursday. She said she could identify the driver in a photo array.

When officers went to her home around 1 p.m. Friday, the witness said the suspect had just been there and had threatened her, Lt. Goldman said.

"We began looking for Mr. Brand, who was identified as the suspect since Wednesday, and he eventually came down here himself at about 2 p.m.," the lieutenant said. "He was immediately arrested."

Asked why it took so long for the witness to come forward, Lt. Goldman said, "Because it takes an act of courage to do that."

Lt. Goldman had said he and Officer Michael Kochanski interviewed the suspect, as well as his wife, at the police station Wednesday night. His wife provided an alibi. He said the man, who is the father of three, voluntarily agreed to go to the station for questioning. He said the man also called police Thursday and requested they interview him again.

Police confiscated hMr. Brand's Honda Accord and the bicycle, which they retrieved from the river Monday night. The state police crime lab picked up the car and the bicycle from the Leominster Police Department, Lt. Goldman said.

Police also secured a warrant for Mr. Brand's cellphone records.

Speaking outside her home Friday, Ms. Brown, the mother, said the arrest was wonderful news.

She said her son was in a lot of pain but doing OK.

The family moved him from his upstairs bedroom to the first floor, and he will be bedridden, except for hourlong stints in a wheelchair, for six to eight weeks, she said.

That the suspect is a father whose wife allegedly provided an alibi was "just disgusting," she said.

"I didn't think there was going to be an arrest," Ms. Brown said. "I thought they were only going to summon him to court. I am so happy he is in jail right now. Because you know what? If my son has to suffer, why shouldn't he have to pay for what he did?"

Contact Brian Lee at brian.lee@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BLeeTG.